By: Phil Ting

One of the many learning habits my incredible California public school education always reinforced is: let history be your guide.

That’s why I was so interested in the recent historical census data showing that in 1940, California already had the highest rate of educational achievement of any state in the nation. Even back then, we were laying the educational foundation for one of the most incredible economic success stories of any society at any time in history.

Our expansive and affordable system of universities, state colleges and community colleges were already taking shape. Further bolstered by the Master Plan for Higher Education and the public investments of the 1950s and 1960s, our investments in education created what was arguably the most dynamic economy in the world.

We’re still living off those investments – but the time has come to step up to protect our inheritance. That’s why we’ve been working so hard to support the Middle Class Scholarship Act proposed by Assembly Speaker John Pérez. I hope you’ll lend your voice to this important effort.